Railway signal torpedo



E. A. SCHOOLEY RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO Jul 16, 1929.

Filed May 15, 1928 Ivwenfor: [014 420 4 CHOOLEY,

Zy', 0 v

Patented July 16 1929.

FFICE.

EDWARD A. SGHOOLEY, OF DORMONT, PENN SYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

Application filed May 15,

This invention relates to railway torpedoes used on railways as audible signals and more particularly to torpedoes embodying'an explosive charge, an enveloping casing of fibrous material and a ductile metal strip for detachably securing the torpedoes to the rails of a railway track.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel form of enveloping casing composed of fibrous material,such as heavy paper, said casing being so formed that the torpedo may be readily and quickly assembled by unskilled workmen and thus reduce the cost of production. 1

Another object is to provide a novel manner of mounting the ductile ,metalretaining strip inthe torpedo. v

A further object is to provide a torpedo having the novel construction, design and combination of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. h In the drawings: v Figure 1 is a plan of a torpedo constructed accordance with this invention. Figure 2 is a plan of the torpedo casing before it is assembled, and showing the attaching strap and explosivetablet in position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line III-III of Figure 2. l

Figure 4 is a plan of the strap-carrying flap of a torpedo case showing a slightly modified form.

Figure 5 is a plan of a separate strapcarrying member embodying the strap retaining feature of this invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings which illustrate my invention, the letter A designates the enclosing fiber casing of the torpedo as a whole, which is formed from a flat piece of heavy paper or fiber board, cut in the form of a Maltese cross. The rectangular or square center 2 of the casing is depressed to form a concave depression 2 in the casing blank to receive a preformed explosive tablet 3, and the arms of the cross form flaps 4, 5, 6 and 7 adapted to be folded over the explosive tablet 3 to close the casmg. The flaps 4 and 5 are no more than half the width of the rectangular center so that when they are folded over the explosive tablet they do not overlap, While the flaps 6 and 7 are of substantially the same size as the rectangular center so that they overlie the entire rectantile metal strap 10.

1928. Serial No. 277,841

gular centerand one flap completelyovera laps the other.

In the preferred form of strap 10 is threaded. The strap 10 is adapted to detachably hold the completed torpedo on the rail of a railway. The strap-retaining member or tongue 8 is adapted to be bent up so that the strap maybe readily inserted phereunder and to be pressed down into posi- If desired, the tongue or member 8 maybe omitted from the flap 6 of the casing, and a separate strap-carrying member or sheet 6, shown in Figure 5, may be used. The strapcarrying member 6 is square in outline and is substantially the same size as the flap 6 of the casing, and has its central portion: out along three sides to form a tongue or strapretaining member 8? attached to the body of the member along one side. The strap-retaining'tongueS has its sides notched, as at 9? which notches cooperate with the body of the member 8 to form eyelets to receive the duo- The member 6* may be mounted over the flaps 4 and 5 of the casing, and'under the flaps 6 and 7, or may be mountedunder the flaps 4 and 5, if desired. It will also be understood that when the strap-carrying member 6 is used the flaps 6 and 7 maybe nomore than half the width of the rectangular center f the casing, if desired.

7 The modified flap 6, of Figure 4, is the same as the flap 6 of the preferred form heretofore described, except that the strap-retaining member or tongue 8 is shown as a straight or plain edged member, while the edges of the main body portion of flap 6 paralleling the side edges of the tongue 8 are cut away to form notches 9 which cooperate With the tongue 8 to form eyelets to receive the duotile strap 10. i

In the formation of the torpedoes of this invention a coating of water-proof cement is applied to the concave depression 2 prior to the insertion of the explosive tablet 3, and then a coating of the same cement is applied my invention the; 6 has 1ts central portion out along three rail:

to the tablet 3 and surrounding portions of the center 2 of the casing to secure the flaps t and 5 in position when they'are folded over the explosive tablet. After the flaps i and 5 are folded into position they will also be coated with cement and the flap 6 will be folded over in position. A layer or coating of coment will then be applied over the flap 6 and the flap 7 will be folded over and secured.

After the casing has been firmly cemented together, the assembled torpedo is then placed in a suitable mold or die and pressed to finally compact the whole structure and complete the shaping thereof. After the torpedo has been pressed to final shape it is coated with a suitable water-prooting compound, such as varnish, shellac or the like, and then, if desired, before such coating is dry, one or more sides of the torpedo may be sanded and the sand will adhere to the sticky coating, thus forming an abrasive surface.

While I have shown and described certain Specific embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto, since other modifications may be made without departing from the .scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I olaim 1. A fiber case railway torpedo comprising an enclosing case made in the form of a Maltese cross and having its rectangular center depressed to form a concave depression for holding the explosive tablet, the arms of said cross forming flaps for closing over the ex-' plosive, two of said flaps being approximate- 1y one-half the width of the rectangular center portion so as to meet at the center line of said cross when folded back over the explosive, the other two of said flaps. being ap proximately the same size as the rectangular center portion so as to completely overlie said center and said first mentioned two flaps when folded back over the explosive, at least one of said last named flaps having an integral tongue out therefrom, and a ductile metal retaining strap adapted to be secured in said last named flap, said tongue being adapted to be bent up and said strap being adapted to be inserted under said tongue and said tongue depressed to lock said strap in position.

2. A fiber case railway torpedo comprising an enclosing case made in the form of a Maltese cross and having its rectangular center depressed to form a concave depression for holding the explosive tablet, the arms of said cross forming flaps for closing over the explosive, two of said flaps being approximately one-half the width of the rectangular center portion so as to meet at the center line of said cross when folded back over the explosive, the

other two of said flaps being approximately the same size as the rectangular center portion so as to completely overlie said center and said first mentioned two flaps when folded back over the explosive, at least one of said last named flaps having an integral tongue out therefrom, notches cut in the side edges of said tongue, said notches being adapted to cooperate with the edges of said flap paralleling said tongue to form eyelets, and a ductile metal retaining strap adapted to be secured in said flap and to have its ends projected through said eyelets, said tongue being adapted to be bent up and said strap being adapted to be inserted under said tongue and said tongue depressed to force said strap into said eyelets.

3. In a fiber railway torpedocasing, a sub stantially rectangular element of said casing adapted to have a ductile metal strap locked therein, said element having an integral tongue out therefrom, notches cut in the side edges of said tongue, said notches being adapted to cooperate with the edges of said element paralleling and adj aeent the side edges of said flap to form eyelets, and a duetile metal retaining strap adapted to be secured in said flap and to have its ends projectedthrough said eyelets, said tongue being adapted to be bent up and said strap being adapted to be inserted under, said tongue and said tongue depressed to force said strap into said eyelets.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD A. SOHOOLEY. 

